Do private schools require (or request) financial aid families with SAHM get a job? If yes, how?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

That’s stupid. So, if I was working full time as a preschool teacher I would have a lower income that someone who’s unemployed?

Yeah. Makes lots of sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

But it’s still a luxury. And taking money from people to enjoy an additional luxury on backs of working mothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

But it’s still a luxury. And taking money from people to enjoy an additional luxury on backs of working mothers.

But apparently the school thinks the child is an asset to the community, whatever the parents are doing. Besides, unless you are voluntarily donating a significant amount, you aren’t supporting the FA students anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

But it’s still a luxury. And taking money from people to enjoy an additional luxury on backs of working mothers.

But apparently the school thinks the child is an asset to the community, whatever the parents are doing. Besides, unless you are voluntarily donating a significant amount, you aren’t supporting the FA students anyway.

This isn’t true. At our school, 20% of tuition is spent on FA so $8000 of the $40,000 we pay is being used to support other families. Two students = $16k in money going to others without donating a single dollar. Check your school’s budget — the percentage of your tuition going to financial aid will be between 10-20%.

[Anonymous]

The only family I know at our private with a non-working parent has significant health issues. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, and she doesn’t share it widely. So I think we have to assume there are good reasons.

Even if it isn’t true for everyone, I would rather believe that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.[i]

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

+1 I stay at home with my kids and am an attorney. The other SAHMs I am friends with at at our school are attorneys, PHDs, political strategists, etc. One was a teacher. Assuming most SAHM were not high earners prior to staying home is a mistake. Most people spending $50k a kid on private school are highly educated themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

In my experience, most parents who SAH and seek to send their kids to private schools, at least independent private schools, did make that much and would be able to make that much - and often significantly more - if they went back to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're not a financial aid family but we're close with a family who is. I went to college with the mom, who constantly complains about private school's aid offer. She doesn't work and her husband isn't making big bucks. It was understandable when the youngest was a toddler, I guess, but youngest is now in 2nd grade, so there's no excuse that she can't work a part-time job. I wasn't sure how or if private schools nudge aid families that it's expected both work? Is it just written on forms or do they come out and tell you directly? Because clearly she hasn't gotten the hint.

For the record, her pre-Corona routine was spent posting all day on Facebook, Starbucks visits, walking neighborhood with another (far wealthier) SAHM, and aimlessly browsing Target, Whole Foods and Trader Joes until the kids needed to be picked up from school.

I just don't get how someone could be so clueless that the rest of her girlfriends are working all day (to pay for private), while she's idle, yet thinks her kids deserve a full boat of aid. It's bugs me so much. Is it entitlement or genuine cluelessness?

Shameless and low class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only family I know at our private with a non-working parent has significant health issues. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, and she doesn’t share it widely. So I think we have to assume there are good reasons.

Even if it isn’t true for everyone, I would rather believe that.

This. It's just must less stress for me to think on the positive side than calculate who is possibly working the system and getting more than the supposedly deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

Well, if they aren't a teacher or librarian or artist or retail warmer they may make that much. Most parents who decide to SAH don't make that much money.

But it’s still a luxury. And taking money from people to enjoy an additional luxury on backs of working mothers.

But apparently the school thinks the child is an asset to the community, whatever the parents are doing. Besides, unless you are voluntarily donating a significant amount, you aren’t supporting the FA students anyway.

This isn’t true. At our school, 20% of tuition is spent on FA so $8000 of the $40,000 we pay is being used to support other families. Two students = $16k in money going to others without donating a single dollar. Check your school’s budget — the percentage of your tuition going to financial aid will be between 10-20%.

For most schools, FA is 10-20% of the expenses, BUT tuition is maybe 80-85% of the revenues. Donations, camp, rentals, whatever make up the rest. So generally FA is not covered by tuition but by fundraising and other stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this forum!

“Isn’t our school wonderful with giving sooo much FA!”
“We don’t even know who gets FA. It doesn’t matter since we are such a supportive community!”
“All the kids are treated the same regardless of FA.”

lol

You figure out who gets FA, you gossip about it and you treat FA families differently. Guaranteed your kids pick up on your attitude and take it to school with them.

FA families are different - they get the same product for less than what we pay for it. And a reminder, private school is a luxury good. There are FREE school available to everyone. If you can't afford private school, DON'T GO.

I assume this is directed at the SAHM with no medical issues that doesn't work, doesn't volunteer or help at school and gets aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My only take on this is that the imputed income for the nonworking parent needs to be increased to a minimum of $55-60,000. It should reflect approximately one-half of the median HHI for the region.

As if jobs are randomly assigned to job seekers! There really aren’t a ton of jobs that you can just walk into at 55K. It’s not a realistic expectation.

Many, many people who SAH can do just that and much more. In fact, most who are looking at private schools left jobs making at least that before staying home.

I’d be fine with a more individualized approach, which would look at the actual earning potential of the SAHP. So, if the parent had little education, English proficiency or other skills, I would be fine imputing less.

But let’s not pretend that most people applying to private schools don’t have the background that would enable them to make at least that if they rejoined the workforce.

You are assuming incorrectly that those people are asking for financial aid. Many/most families with SAHPs do not apply for financial aid.